A St. Joseph man made a court appearance Friday in connection with the murder of his 81-year-old grandmother.

Michael Ray Courter, 40 was charged in May with a felony for second-degree murder in connection with Clyda Spurgeon’s death.

According to court documents, sometime between 8 p.m. April 28 and 8 a.m. April 29 Courter is accused of hitting Spurgeon repeatedly with a hammer he borrowed from her. The Buchanan County Prosecuting Attorney’s office said she died after being hit in the head multiple times with a blunt object. As we previously reported, Spurgeon was found dead at 108 East Highland Ave. late in the morning of April 29th.

Courter appeared in person in court Friday for a preliminary hearing. Judge Rebecca Spencer certified the case to circuit court. Courter remains behind bars on $250,000 cash only bond.